“How many siblings do you have?” he asks.
“Just one,” she glances away from his eyes unnerved by the intensity in them.
“Your choker has a musical note on it, why?” he demands.
“That’s easy. I love music,” Aiylin smiles softly.
“What type of music?” his deep voice has her looking into his eyes.
“All types,” she lights up when she thinks of it.
“Where do you live?” he asks.
“Lockhaven. Why so many questions? I’ll be gone in the morning and out of your hair,” she frowns.
“We should start over, Miss Miller. I think we got off on the wrong foot. If we’re to be family I’d like to get to know you better.”
“Or perhaps you’re just nosy,” she quips. Sebastian’s hand tightens on hers, and she hisses. The music stops, and he immediately releases her and steps back.
“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Worry not, Mr. Becker, you didn’t, someone else did,” she reassures him.
Elizabeth announces desert in the dining room. Rubbing her hand, Aiylin walks away to join Elizabeth at the door.
Chapter 10
After dessert, some of the guests leave, while others stay for coffee and conversation. Aiylin is seated at the end of a long table next to Tasha and Sheriff Dane. Tinley has climbed onto her lap and is yawning.
“I like your necklace,” Tinley whispers.
“Thank you, it was a gift from my sister,” she replies.
“I don’t have a sister,” she replies with a frown. “What is it like?”
Aiylin focuses on the child on her lap and smiles. “It’s like having a best friend forever.”
“Oh, I wish I had a sister,” she glances away with a frown.
Across from them sits Miss Emily May and her mother, Louisa. Sebastian sits next to Emily, and she is laughing at everything he says.
“Miss Miller, what does your family do?” Louisa asks.
There it is, the dreaded question she knew would come.
“My father is a wood carver,” she replies with a small smile.
“Oh, isn’t that interesting,” Louisa smirks, and the quiet is deafening.
Sebastian watches her face and notes the sparkle in her eye. He realizes that she is hedging. “What exactly does he carve Miss Miller?”
Aiylin lifts her chin and stares at him. The challenge in his eyes has her smiling.
“Guitars.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrow before his grin grows in recognition.
“Guitars,” Louisa says. “What in the world…” she starts to say, but her daughter shakes her head no.
“Miller? Your father is Charles Miller, of Miller Guitars?” Sheriff Dane asks incredulously.
“Yes,” she replies and sips her tea.
Instantly questions are fired at her from every direction.
“That’s the instrument you were concerned about?” the Sheriff asks.
“Yes. It was my Grandfather’s,” Aiylin replies.
Elizabeth watches with interest and thinks about the way she cared for it earlier. “Do you play?” she asks quietly.
“A little,” Aiylin blushes and looks to Sebastian for help, but he is grinning like a wolf.
“Yes, Miss Miller, you must play for us,” he demands.
“No, I don’t think that…”
“I prefer the piano, it’s much more refined,” Louisa snaps, interrupting her. “Emily will play for us.”
“It’s not possible to compare a guitar to a piano. They are two completely different instruments,” Aiylin insists.
“In what way?” Tasha asks.
“A piano requires two hands on the keys, allowing for rhythm and melody, it’s much more difficult to do that on a guitar,” Aiylin explains.
“Let’s retire to the living room,” Elizabeth insists. She signals Stanley and whispers for him to bring the case from her room.
Tinley grabs her hand and chatters all the way to the living room. Aiylin glares at Sebastian as he laughs with Emily and her mother. He walks with them into the adjoining room.
Emily sits at the piano and plays a lovely Christmas song for them, and Aiylin is forced to hide a wince as she bangs on the keys.
“Do you play the piano, Miss Miller?” Louisa asks.
“It isn’t my instrument of choice,” she replies as Stanley enters with her case.
Aiylin moves forward drawn by the lure of her first love, and Sebastian watches her hands trail over the worn black leather. When she runs a hand over the case and flips the locks, jealousy flares, causing him to smile at the absurdity of the emotion.
Sheriff Dane and Tasha walk over and crowd in behind her as she flips open the case.
“That’s beautiful!” the Sheriff growls.
“How long does it take to make one?” Tasha asks as Aiylin lifts it from the case.
“Three years, start to finish.”
“That seems like a long time,” Emily sneers.
“Well, art takes time, Miss May. Every piece that makes up our guitars is hand carved. Two years is spent waiting for the log to dry out before the carving process can even begin. This one is made from five unique species of wood. No other guitars are made with the quality of a Miller,” she explains proudly.
“You seem knowledgeable,” Tasha says.
“I work at the factory with my family,” she replies.
“Play it, Miss Aiylin,” Tinley pleads. Aiylin smiles at her and slips the strap over her head, allowing the child to lead her to a chair.
Guests are shuffling around, some talking, most not paying attention until she strums the first note. Aiylin smiles softly as the vibration ripples through her body, and the room disappears as she plays. She smiles at Tinley as she plays O’ Come All Ye Faithful.
Tinley reaches out and touches the instrument, feeling the vibration, and smiles at Aiylin. “How does it do that? Is it magic?” she gasps in wonder.
“No, that is skill,” the Sheriff states, dropping an arm around Tasha’s waist and pulling her close.
“More,” Tinley pleads, and Aiylin plays a few more well-known Christmas carols before putting it away. The guests applaud, and Aiylin blushes
